Course Overview

 

Cheminformatics is the use of computational techniques to solve chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology problems. Students will understand and apply a range of computational tools to address toxicological questions in preparation for a career in in-silico toxicity prediction in the pharma, industry, consultancy, academia and government. The course is delivered over one year by the disciplines of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Mathematics and Chemistry.

Course Content

The programme is 90 ECTS in total; it runs from September-July and is divided into three trimesters (each of 30 ECTS) in the following manner:

Trimester One (30 ECTS - September-December)

  • Introduction to Toxicology (PM311 - 5 ECTS)
  • Programming for Biology (MA5114 - 5 ECTS)
  • Applied Toxicology (PM5108 - 5 ECTS)
  • Statistical Computing with R (MA5108 - 5 ECTS)
  • Computational Approaches to Drug Design and Biomolecular Structure (CH5106 -5 ECTS)

Trimester Two (30 ECTS - January-March)

  • Screening Molecular Libraries (PM5114 - 5 ECTS)
  • Advanced Chemoinformatics (MA5118 -5 ECTS)
  • Introduction to Bioinformatics (Honours) (MA324 - 5 ECTS)
  • Advanced Toxicology (PM5111 - 10 ECTS)

Trimester Three (30 ECTS - May-July)

  •  Research Project in Toxicology (30 ECTS)

Assessment

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the course will be employed in the Pharmaceutical industry, the Cosmetics Industry, National and EU Regulatory bodies, Toxicology Consultancies and academia. 

Applications

  • Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.  Applicants, at the discretion of the selection committee, may be invited to attend a personal interview.  Places are limited.
  • Candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible for the following academic year.
  • Course Fees

Entry Requirements:

  • The ideal student will have a BSc or MSc in chemistry with an interest in toxicology, and computational approaches to toxicity prediction. Students with a background in Pharmacology or Bio-informatics (or related disciplines) will also be encouraged to apply.
  • Students are also considered who have a Level 7 degree and three years of relevant work experience.
  • An IELTS score of 6.5+ (with not less than 6 in any one component) is required for students where English is not their native language.

Course Director: Dr. Howard Fearnhead

Phone: +353 91 495 240

E-mail: howard.fearnhead@universityofgalway.ie

More Details on Course